Potato Genomehttp://www.potatogenome.org
Where it all beginsMon, 03 Jul 2017 20:39:25 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.7HOW TO MAKE A POTATO GUNhttp://www.potatogenome.org/how-to-make-a-potato-gun/
http://www.potatogenome.org/how-to-make-a-potato-gun/#respondMon, 03 Jul 2017 20:35:39 +0000http://www.potatogenome.org/?p=36Making air cannons and potato guns can be a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous. Always be safe and make the safety of others a top priority. If your air cannon or potato cannon doesn’t fire right away, you should never look down the barrel. You may take out an eye or even worse, possibly cause a severe injury to yourself or someone else.

Everyone loves to devour potatoes, but firing them out of a blaster can be just as amusing. Also known as a spudzooka, potato gun, potato cannon and Spud Gun, this is an amusing project that demonstrates the principles of physics. Part of the kicks and enjoyment of preparing a potato gun is to experiment with the basic configuration to tweak performance and learn useful engineering instruction. Here’s how to engineer your own potato blaster.

It is crucial to point out to persons that the aim of your spud gun is increased by the length of your barrel. You also need to note that the combustion chamber has to be enlarged if you are using a longer barrel or are looking for extended distance. The finest models I have seen so far have a shorter combustion socket with a wide diameter, an electric ignition off of a portable camping stove, a sharpened barrel edge (for faster loading of potatoes), a shoulder harness for easier aiming, and an under-barrel ram pole similar to those used on muskets and old guns. Never shoot a potato launcher from on top of your shoulder. A slip next to your face can kill you.

The real skill on a combustion based potato gun is finding the right firing source. Try finding a twist-type igniter for a camping stove or lamp. You can also buy a Barbeque manufacturer push-button igniter switch which is usually sold at hardware stores or anywhere that sells gas barbecues.

The internal launch spud gun is befitting, especially for portability purposes. However, a pneumatic spud gun greatly decreases reloading times, maintenance times, and mess. You may need a couple of diameters reduce to get down to the same size as the nipple depending on the size of the cylinder you start with.

The fuel sources that I have used in the past have been mainly Hairspray. I would not recommend anything more powerful. Experimenting with fuel sources can be very dangerous and result in harm or death to the person if proper precautions aren’t taken. A rule of thumb to follow in testing this would be to always start with baby amounts of whatever propellant you are using as a weaker explosion would merely send the potato out at a slow rate. Be warned about the distance that this blaster will go. Make sure you have the space to fire this without destroying anything and treat it like a firearm, not a toy. Also, remember to obey the law and check with your city’s local laws and codes before preparing.

Lastly…have fun with your new invention.

]]>http://www.potatogenome.org/how-to-make-a-potato-gun/feed/0How to Make the Perfect Potato Soup!http://www.potatogenome.org/how-to-make-the-perfect-potato-soup/
http://www.potatogenome.org/how-to-make-the-perfect-potato-soup/#respondMon, 26 Jun 2017 00:26:30 +0000http://www.potatogenome.org/?p=31There’s a lot of soup varieties out there but none can compare to your usual potato soup. The Scandinavians call “potatoes” as your all around nutritional needs. During the Viking Era when food was scarce, they lived off potatoes from plaster food carbohydrates to liquor; you name it they all came from potatoes.
Potato Soup

Today, we’re past the Viking era and into gourmet recipes. In this recipe, we’re going to show you how to make the perfect potato soup, you’ll be trying to make every day like the Vikings once did, only now, you’ll be much more appreciative of this perfect taste we have for you. Now, let’s talk about Ingredients.

Here’s an easy guide on how to make the perfect potato soup. The perfect potato soup would require you to have the following: (Note that this recipe will make 8 servings, just double the ingredients if you want to make more but on equal ratios.)

Procedure:
1. Cook the bacon slices in a non-stick pan. Once done, slice them up into strip bits. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and sauté until cooked. Keep some of the bacon strips for garnishing later on.

3. Place the ingredients prepared in Step 2 in a pot, add 1 cup of water and bring to boil. You may also add the optional ingredients here such as the sour cream, cheese/butter.

4. Once Step 3 has come to boil, add the ingredients made in step 1.

5. Garnish with parsley and remaining bacon strips from Step 1.

6. Serve.

Notes:
It’s always best to get fresh potatoes from organic markets so you can get the best out of the taste and texture of your potato soup. You can also add more to the taste by adjusting measurement of the salt and pepper. Make sure you don’t overcook your salt and lower heat whenever the contents overflow from your cooking pot.

Lastly, it’s always best to slow cook your potato soup so the flavors would mix organically. You have to be patient with cooking potato soups because they tend to take time and preparation, though with this recipe you won’t be worrying about anything else following the exact directions for the potato soup, once you get the hang of cooking and proper preparation you will be making this recipe like a pro. Always remember, the tastiest foods are made with love and dedication.

]]>http://www.potatogenome.org/how-to-make-the-perfect-potato-soup/feed/0Growing Potatoeshttp://www.potatogenome.org/growing-potatoes/
http://www.potatogenome.org/growing-potatoes/#respondSat, 27 May 2017 02:13:09 +0000http://www.potatogenome.org/?p=5Have you ever wanted to grow a garden? Do you like potatoes?

Well, they are easy to grow all it takes is a little patience and a tiny bit of work. When you are starting out you are going to have to get them in seed form, most nurseries don’t sell potatoes as a plant.

That is more fun anyway I would say starting with the seed takes a bit longer, but it is more rewarding; at least to me, it is. Find a good spot in your garden with soil that isn’t to think and drains fairly easy.

If you have thick and heavy soil, like clay, you will need to plant your potatoes in raised beds. In fact, I would suggest you do that anyway; that is going to help the potatoes in any climate or soil.

Get fertilizers that are high in potassium and phosphorous, but avoid manure and nitrogen. Ask your local nursery and they will direct you to the right type of fertilizer you will need.

Potatoes Growing

Getting too much nitrogen in your garden is going to suffocate your potatoes, which means no homemade French fries for dinner. Getting manure in your potato garden is going to have consequences that are much worse.

Manure is going to raise the pH of your soil, and any soil that is high in pH is going to cause your potatoes to get the scab disease. Other things like lime, ash, and other vegetation can all raise the pH of your soil. A good pH level for your level for your garden would be around a 6 to a 6.5.

You can get an inexpensive soil tester from your nearby nursery, or you could just order one online. They are great and I wouldn’t trade mine for the world.

But if that is too much of a bother for you, you could perform a little science experiment with some vinegar or baking soda. If you put your soil in a bowl with vinegar and there is little or no bubbling that means that you have a good soil for potatoes.

If you put soil in a bowl with water and baking soda and there is a reaction, you may have to go mix some vinegar into your soil outside. You can use sphagnum peat moss or sulfur or sulfate related substance to get your soil more acidic.

Although when you are about to eat your potatoes make sure they are not green and that you cook them. Do not eat the plant or leaves; all the green parts have a substance called glycoalkaloids in them. These are not edible and may cause harm

Now, the most important advice for raising potatoes is:Be sure to weed properly and to keep you garden fresh with the right kind of nutrients.